Comments

1. Hmmm … 6 X 9 = 54, 27 X 2 = 54 … wait, do you know the answer, or have access to it? How will we know? Is it 83? ‘Cause 27 X 83 = 2241? That doesn’t seem to fit a pattern or make much sense, but hey, maybe worth a shot! 243? ‘Cause 9 X 27 = 243? …

   Comment by DaveH on November 26, 2009 @ 1:23 pm

2. I don’t have the answer, but a reasonably generic formula that outputs any number in the series should be satisfying enough.

   Here are my notes from various attempts at finding a pattern.

   2 x 3 = 6
   3 x 3 = 9
   9 x 3 = 27
   18 x 3 = 54
   747 x 3 = 2241

   Six
   Nine
   Twenty-seven
   Fifty-four
   Two thousand two hundred forty one

   Factors
   6 = 1,2,3,6
   9 = 1,3,9
   27 = 1,3,9,27
   54 = 1,2,3,6,9,18,27,54
   2241 = 1,3,9,27,83,249,747,2241

   Addition
   6 (+3 = 9)
   9 (+18 = 27)
   27 (+27 = 54)
   54 (+?)

   Multiplication
   6 (x1.5 = 9)
   9 (x3 = 27)
   27 (x2 = 54)
   54 (x?)

   Comment by Dan on November 27, 2009 @ 2:51 pm

3. Just heard back from Barbara that she doesn’t know the answer, but it’s a three digit number that starts with 65. Since all the other numbers are divisible by three, I’m guessing it’s either 651, 654 or 657 (217, 218 and 219 x3).

   There are no multiples of 54 that fall within the range of 650-659.

   Comment by Dan on November 30, 2009 @ 8:43 am

4. I think I’ve got it…(although to be honest, nothing clicked until I read one of the above posts).

   6
   9
   27
   54
   X
   2241

   The pattern I found is that the sum of each two consecutive numbers is equal to the previous number squared (Although I only have proof of this for a few terms). For example:

   9 + 27 = 6^2
   27 + 54 = 9^2
   54 + X = 27^2
   X + 2241 = 54^2

   1) 54 + X = 729
   X = 675

   2) X + 2241 = 2916
   X = 675

   I get the same value for X both times, which supports this hypothesis o_O

   Comment by Parris on April 6, 2010 @ 2:58 am

5. @Parris Nice work. That’s got to be the answer. Barbara was mistaken – the answer starts with 67, not 65. :)

   Comment by Dan on April 6, 2010 @ 8:46 am

6. 6 9 27 54 _ 2241

   Ans:-675
   6*6-9=27
   9*9-27=54
   27*27-54=675
   54*54-675=2241

   Comment by gandharav on January 19, 2011 @ 12:55 am

7. I think I have it, except for the 6, if you add the digits in each number they come to total of 9, eg 2 + 7 = 9, 5 + 4 = 9, 2+2+4+1 = 9, so missing number could be 81 or 621. What do you think?

   Comment by ann johnston on July 28, 2011 @ 6:19 am

8. @ann But what about the 6? The solution should work for all numbers in the series.

   Comment by Dan on July 28, 2011 @ 7:18 am

9. How about turning the 6 upside down!

   Comment by ann johnston on July 28, 2011 @ 11:18 am

10. @ann You get points for creativity, but Parris’ mathematical solution is far more satisfying.

    Comment by Dan on July 28, 2011 @ 11:26 am